Working on the Chanting

Saturday, October 10th, 2026

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Kirtan is introduced to our young at an early age. If there is a microphone turned on in the temple they see it as an opportunity. This evening at ISKCON Manitoba’s temple, also known as Sri Hari Vaikuntha Dham, there was an uproarious chanting session, after some hours of penetrating meetings. During the song in praise of the Lion Avatar three young boys wanted to get ‘a piece of the action.’ They are obvious playmates, they teamed up together and appeared to know the song which begins with “Namaste narasimhaya...” I held the mic in hand as I began leading the song. Before we knew it, these three young chaps wanted to participate. It was charming.

The temple room was packed and the generation senior to these young guys were in a bhakti frenzy and good on the drums. There were a number of voices from the 20’s and 30’s category that demonstrated so much enthusiasm. Equally showing the same zeal were the girls. The young men, however, broke the rules on the pitch. In their ecstasy some of the fellows followed a pattern they are most conditioned to. Midway through the Gaura Arati song, they hit a higher pitch which few in the temple hall can reach.

On the previous day’s conference, Nitai Priya, a Canadian music trainer, conducted a whole hour session on voice, pitch, intent, style, much to do with musicology. Our leaders for the AGM conference heard it, but the rank and file members of the community did not hear about kirtan standards. We do not want to discourage chanting but will this younger gen make some adjustments in order to gain more control with mantra power?

Today was Shakti's birthday. She is in Hamilton.

MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU

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